A joyride on the seas: Aboard the world's largest, 'most instagrammable' cruise

Royal Caribbean Cruises' Symphony of the Seas, the world’s largest and newest cruise ship, embarked on its maiden voyage. “We have built Symphony of the Seas to be the jewel in our Instagram crown. Th

May 08, 2018, 18:00 IST4 min

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Based on research that nearly half of Britons (45 percent) choose a holiday based on the opportunity for social media boasting power, &lsquobragalicious&rsquo Instagram content and &lsquoan ultimate experience&rsquo has been considered at each stage of construction. It took 36 months, 4,700 shipbuilders and their crew to build the cruise ship, designed around vacationers&rsquo preferences

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Spanning 1,188 feet, the ship welcomes double occupancy in its 2,759 staterooms, including 28 additional balcony rooms that overlook the ocean or signature Boardwalk neighborhood. Royal Caribbean partnered with STX France in building this ambitious, technologically-advanced ship

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The Royal Promenade showcases the Beetle Sphere&mdasha sculptural made of several Volkswagen Beetles compressed into one spherical ball by Indonesian artist Ichwan Noor&mdashamong other unusual art installations

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At the aft of the ship, there&rsquos live action at the AquaTheatre, an amphitheatre with aquatic acrobatics and high-diving aerial performances set against the ocean backdrop

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A view of the the main dining room and the Solarium Bistro, an upscale eatery atop the ship that serves up New England-inspired seafood, and Izumi&rsquos Sushi, among others

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A spread from El Loco Fresh. Made-to-order tacos and burritos wrapped with fresh tortillas are among the Mexican &lsquostreet food&rsquo favourites for those looking to fuel up with minimal downtime

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The Perfect Storm trio of water slides offers exciting views as guests launch themselves from the deck through a series of swirling twists and turns and finally onto the pool

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Hi-tech projection capabilities and highly-skilled entertainers bring performances to life at the cruise line&rsquos signature ice rink

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Meet the robotic bartenders. A marvel of modern technology, guests can watch in awe as their drinks are made to order with precision and flair at the Bionic Bar

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Brace yourself for a spine-tingling rush as you whizz across the Boardwalk, suspended on the zip-line nine decks above. For the game-crazy, there&rsquos the first onboard glow-in-the-dark laser tag game, Battle for Planet, in a space-bound adventure that will see teams go head-to-head to lay claim on the last planet in the galaxy

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